The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-05-16
NINE. PATHS YOUTH.
How, When and Where the Diva Began Her
Reign in the World of Music.

Reign in the World of Music.
Chicago News Interview with ST rakosch.
The debut.of Patti was. as may say, the re-
suit of accident. A concert was given for
charity at the New York Academy of Music. in
1850. and singer of some celebrity in her day,
but now forgotten, made her first appearance.
BY way of novelty, little girl eight years old,
the daughter of singing teacher, was announced
to sing the song made famous by Jenny Lind
the Echo Song" and aria from LA Sonnam-
bula." When the child came the stage
she symphony in black and white-lumin-
Gus black eyes and white pantalettes. She was
given round of applause her
confident as she is now. Her singing was
phenomenal. and she created an extraordinary
sensation, starting her at once upon her career
as the greatest singer OF her age. arranged
for series of concerts in Baltimore. The first
night there were about hundred persons in the
house: the second, twice as many; the sixth con-
cert given before audience of two thou
sand people, and the enthusiasm was unbounded.
Even in these early days Patti was just capri
cious and self-willed as she has always been.
One day took her for walk, and she saw big
doll in a shop window. She dropped my
hand and rushed TO the window in an ecstasy of
childish admiration. Nothing would do but
lust buy the doll for her. SO promised her that
she should have it. That evening there was a
large house, and before her first entrance Patti
sent for me.
LILA bambolap The DOLL
II told her she should have it IN the morning.
The tears came into her big. dark eyes, and she
informed me. with q stamp OF her little foot,
there she should not sing. So the audience was
kept waiting while l went to the shop keepers
house. thence to his store, bought the doll. and
hurried with it to the child. She took it, kissed
it with effusion, dashed the tears from her eyes.
and went the stage to sing in a style that
captvated the public. Ole Bull was travelling
with the company. and one day at dinner the
old violinist refused to give little Patti her
modicum of chamragne-a beverage of which
even then she was very fond Another child would
have pouted and cried, but Adelina rose and gave
the vioiinist a resonant box the
ear much to his CONSERVATION and the amaze
ment of the guests in the dining groom. Patti
made her money in America. When she first
sang in Europe she was engaged by Gye for
Covent Garden, and by the terms of her contract
she was to sing three times during a fortnight
without any salary whatever. If successful, she
was to remain at Covent Garden for five years.
receiving salary graduated thus: For the first
year, $3.50 per month; for the second, 81, 900 per
month; for the third. 81 $50 per month; for the
fourth, $500 per month. and for the fifth
So 900. 1t is needless to say that Patti a
sensational success and the manager de-
lighted to have engaged her on these TERMS still
it may be said with authority that until her
marriage to the Marquis de Caux she never
ceved more than 5000 night for singing in
opera.
THE great Grisi in her prime never received
more than $3.50 per night, at which rate she
considered extravagantly paid When she
was over sixty years DID, she was engaged by
Gre for three wears at Covent Garden it being
expressly stipulated that after that time she
shonld retire from the stage nay Gye a
when Patti first began to scintillate as a star
and even then she was fu-iously Jealous of any
rival. When Patti first sang IL London, Grisi
in the audience. and suffered keenly be-
cause of the applause, which began at the close
of Adelnas first mum Der and continued inces-
sanity throughout the evening Grisi
particularly annoyed by one party who sat near
her and burst his gloves In his efforts to ex-
press enthusiasm. Turning to the stranger,
she said petulantly: What in heavens name.
do you applaud I think the child very
commonplace The enthusiastic party
myself added Mr.. Strakosch.
After the death OF Rossini." continued the
inpresario. Il went to call upon his widow to
offer my coincidence. Nine. Rosini informed
that the maestro had left her as legacy a
mass never published performed. offered
to purchase the work, but was somewhat discon-
certed by the price demanded, 100000 francs.
After some demur agreed to the purchase. how
ever, providing I could engage Alboni for the
contralto part for l believed that she was the
only singer capable of interpreting the music in
such manner as to insure success. knew that
Alboni had retired from the stage. having an in
come of loo. 900 francs, out of which she gave
half to the poor and supported a lot of relations
on the remainder. Pending the purchase
of the mass I went to see Alboni I
was her response to ali importnnines; but. as
the conversation continued. I discovered that
the great contralto stood in need of money for
special purpose. Yes. / want money she adj
mitted; my niece is engaged to be married to
an estimable young man. All that delays the
marriage is the fact that the poor girl has no
fortune. 1 should like to give her LOG, 900 francs
as dot. but really haven't it to spare.
".Shall tell you how to earn itP asked.
You mean to sing for you!'
"sPrecsely; to create the contralto role in
Rossnis mass. Think of the happiness that the
dowry would bring to your dear niece and her
estimable fiance'
This argument was not witho ut effect and it
was thus tn at Rossinis great work was first in
troduced to the musical world"